Abstract

Donald Mitchell: Ben, you were talking about some composers—some, only—young composers, who
reject the past. Well, of course, certainly that has never happened in your case. To a composer standing at
the point of his life where you do today [February 1969], you have a great inheritance, not only in your
own music but also with regard to the past. I would like to ask you how it feels standing in that situation?
And are you conscious of this wonderfully exciting but also great burden of tradition behind you?
Benjamin Britten: [A long pause.] I’m supported by it, Donald. I couldn’t be alone. I couldn’t work alone. I
can only work really because of the tradition that I am conscious of behind me.